AHL All-Star Teams and All-Rookie Team named

By Jon Waldman

April 1st, 2004

As the AHL season draws to a close and teams continue to battle it outfor the right to compete for the Calder Cup, the league

As the AHLseason draws to a close and teams continue to battle it out for the right tocompete for the Calder Cup, the league took some time off from the fierce teamcompetition to honor some individual efforts, naming the first and second teamsof AHL All-Stars, as well as the All-Rookie Team.

The teamswere selected by the players and media in each of the 28 AHL cities, with 12clubs having at least one player voted onto the squads. Players that were namedto the post-season teams will be given a special gift in honor of theirachievement.

First All-Star Team

Jason LaBarbera, G, Hartford Wolf Pack – Simplyput, LaBarbera was stellar between the pipes thisyear for the Hartford Wolf Pack, going 30-8-9 through 54 games, while writinghis name in the record books by attaining 12 shutouts. LaBarbera’sseason also included three games in the NHL with the Rangers.

Bryan Muir, D, Manchester Monarchs – To saythat Muir stood out this season is an understatement. The Manchesterbluelinercontributed solidly on both ends of the rink, recording 48 points and a +22rating. Muir also showed his physicality when needed, racking up 134 penaltyminutes in his 67 games thus far.

Curtis Murphy, D, Milwaukee Admirals – Theleading scorer among defenseman this season, Murphy earned his secondconsecutive First Team berth for strong play that has included a league-high +38rating. The Milwaukee rearguard appeared in histhird-straight AHL All-Star game this season, while not missing a game for thethird year in a row.

Denis Hamel, LW, Binghamton Senators –Considered by many to be one of the Ottawa Senators’ brightest prospects, Hamelcontinued to show promise this season by racking up 63 points in his first yearin Binghamton. Invaluable on the penalty-kill, Hamel shares the league leadwith four short-handed goals.

Eric Perrin, C, Hershey Bears – Hershey’s faceoff man took his game to a new level this year,counting 75 points in 71 games thus far. He currently sits atop the assistlist, with 54 helpers. Along the way, he was named to the starting line-up forthe Canadian Team at the AHL All-Star game, and made his big-league debut with TampaBay on Saturday.

Jeff Hamilton, RW, Bridgeport Sound Tigers – Theleading goal-scorer in the AHL this season, Hamilton established a new recordfor game-winning goals with 15, beating the 50 year-old mark set by Dunc Fisher. Hamilton‘s achievement is even more noteworthywhen you consider that he missed 13 games with an eye injury.

Second All-Star Team

Wade Dubielewicz, G, Bridgeport Sound Tigers – Bridgeport‘s secondpost-season All-Star earned his way onto the team by sheer force. The rookie goaltender had a stellarseason that has seen him earn a 1.42 GAA, which, if it stands, will break theAHL record. Dubielewicz, who was also named to theAll-Rookie Team, made his NHL debut with the New York Islanders on March 25.

John Slaney, D, Philadelphia Phantoms – ThePhantoms’ top defenseman proved he’s still one of the top bluelinersin the league by earning his third post-season berth in four years. Thetwo-time Eddie Shore Award winner has put up 42 points in just 53 games thisseason while becoming the all-time scoring leader for the league.

Garrett Stafford, D, Cleveland Barons – TheCleveland Baron standout received double honors, also earning a spot on theAll-Rookie Team. Stafford put up big numbers this year in the A, notching 46 points in 68 games.The lone representative for the Barons at the AHL All-Star Game, Stafford was named the AHL’sRookie of the Month in January.

Steve Maltais, LW, Chicago Wolves – Chicago‘s steady left-man earned his sixthpost-season All-Star award, picking up 58 points thus far. Maltaiscaptained the Wolves to the 2002 Calder Cup, and looks to do so again thisseason. One of the senior members of the All-Star squad, Maltaishas played 1,160 pro hockey games, amassing 1,226 points.

Brad Boyes, C, Providence Bruins – Boyes followed up a 2003 All-Rookie-Team honor by scoring67 points in 71 games. The Providence front-liner became the first playersince the 1995-96 season to begin his AHL career with back-to-back 30-goalcampaigns. He was acquired by the Boston Bruins at the NHL trade deadline,after beginning his season in the San Jose Sharks organization.

Pavel Rosa, RW,Manchester Monarchs – Rosa has been spectacular for Manchester this year. With 11 days to go inthe season, Rosa leads all scorers with 79 pointsand leads all forwards with a +36 rating. Rosa has earned 142 points in 131 AHLgames, and also picked up his first goal in five years in NHL play on February15.